Bayou Built: Louisiana Businesses are Paving the Way
New Orleans has a reputation that precedes it. Fondly referred to as the “Big Easy” and known for its jazz music, food scene, and storied past marked with tragedy, the city has quietly made a name for itself as a hub for innovation and startups. And it’s not alone; businesses around the state are becoming more competitive by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies.
In a recent guest column for The Advocate, two Louisianians invested in the entrepreneurs and businesses of the state made a case for the tech industry potential blossoming in New Orleans. In a city as resilient and scrappy as New Orleans, and in a state as rich in culture as Louisiana, entrepreneurship and creative innovation go hand in hand. We have highlighted the trailblazers transforming Louisiana cities and businesses before, and the authors continue to make the case, citing Tulane’s Innovation Institute, Ochsner Ventures innovations in healthcare, policies that prioritize innovation, expanding efforts to attract and create groundbreaking research, and groups like The Idea Village investing in local startups.
The business culture of New Orleans is pro-innovation. Tulane’s School of Business released its annual report on startups in New Orleans, and the marriage between technology and enterprise is evident. 35% of those surveyed answered that generative AI represents the greatest opportunity for their businesses, while another 32% answered that AI and machine learning more broadly represented the greatest opportunity.
It’s not just New Orleans businesses that are forging ahead. The U.S Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Empowering Small Business Report: the Impact of Technology on US Small Businesses provides an in-depth survey of the businesses powering communities around the country. AI took center stage in the report, with how well companies adopt and leverage the technology often serving as a strong indicator of success. Louisiana ranks high in AI adoption, tying for 7th highest adoption rates with Oregon and Wyoming.
Zooming in, the report notes that “tech and AI use leads to significant economic growth” and that in Louisiana alone, 84% of AI users grew their sales, 86% grew their profits, and 78% grew their workforce. These numbers are nearly mirrored when examining Louisiana businesses that are high-tech adopters more generally.
Our state’s leadership in technology adoption and vibrant entrepreneurial culture is something worth celebrating. Successful startups and small businesses ready for the future do not happen by accident. A legislative and regulatory environment that does not punish innovators, but instead encourages the free market to work, creates the conditions for New Orleans to continue adding to its reputation and Louisiana to continue attracting more talent, jobs, and success.
Links to Learn More
As Goes AI, So Goes the Nation – Pelican Institute for Public Policy
Small Business Use of AI Surges, Driving Daily Efficiency | U.S. Chamber of Commerce
